News

Rolex And World Sailing Extend Partnership

Published: Wednesday, 13 July 2016

Rolex, the leading name in luxury wristwatches, extended its sponsorship for the World Sailor of the Year Awards for 2016 of World Sailing.

(Photo: Rolex)

Rolex has been the Title Sponsor of the Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards since 2001. The awards are the highest honour of recognition for male and female sailors. In addition to the magnificent Rolex World Sailor of the Year trophy, each winner is presented with an engraved Rolex watch.

The 2016 Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards event will take place during the World Sailing Annual Conference in Barcelona, Spain in November.

(Photos: World Sailing)

Since the award's inception in 1994, the trophy has proudly accumulated the names of those who have demonstrated unparalleled endurance, performance and accomplishment in sailing.

Beginning with the inaugural winners Sir Peter Blake and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the trophy reads like the definitive who's who in sailing. New Zealand's talented 49er duo Peter Burling and Blair Tuke won the 2015 male Rolex World Sailor of the Year following an outstanding run of regatta victories in the 49er and the golden girl of British sailing, Sarah Ayton, was awarded the female title.

Rolex will also continue its sponsorship of the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), the publication that governs the sport on the water.

"Rolex have a long and esteemed history within sailing and their extended support of the Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards is further evidence of their outstanding commitment to supporting our sport,” says World Sailing Chief Executive Andy Hunt. "The Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards highlights the qualities of our world's leading athletes from commitment and determination to performance and prestige. These same qualities can be found in long running partnership with Rolex.”